FPX smash RNG for a five-game win streak, climb to #3 in LPL

After a poor start to the season, FunPlus Phoenix are looking more and more like their former self. In the highlight match on Sunday, FPX smashed Royal Never Give Up 2-0 to achieve a five-game win streak and catapult themselves to a tied-third place in the LPL rankings.

Ever since the LPL returned from its coronavirus hiatus, FPX have been gaining steam and the week 1 losses to Invictus Gaming and eStar seem long forgotten. In the last two weeks, FPX have not only picked up much needed stabilizing wins against lower and mid-tier teams, but also a couple against the top LPL dogs. Their first match after the break was a 2-1 against JD Gaming, who led the rankings after week 1 with outstanding performances by Lee “LokeN” Dong-wook and Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok. After slicing through Dominus, Team WE, and Suning with combined 6-0, FPX went on stage Sunday to face RNG — a struggling team playing without Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao, but still a fearsome opponent.

The series became a two-man show by Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang and Kim “GimGoon” Han-saem, both playing Aatrox in games 1 and 2, respectively. Doinb ran away with the MVP award for game 1, putting on a 6/0/5 KDA, supported by Gao “Tian” Tian-Liang’s stellar jungling on Sejuani.

In game 2, RNG put on a much better fight with Lu “Bety” Yu-Hung keeping his team in the game, but in the top lane, GimGoon’s Aatrox reigned in terror. FPX’s top laner put on a 5/1/6 KDA by the end of the game, as victory for FPX came after a successful four-for-zero team fight at the Baron pit.

After week 3, FPX (5-2) share the third place with JD Gaming, lagging just one win behind Invictus Gaming (6-0) and eStar (6-1). The two leaders are actually to play each other today.